RARE ANTIQUE c.17-18th CENT. LARGE ORTHODOX OLD BELIEVERS CROSS "I AM THE VINE" For Sale

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RARE ANTIQUE c.17-18th CENT. LARGE ORTHODOX OLD BELIEVERS CROSS "I AM THE VINE":
$99.00

The Savior's Cross depicted on the obverse as a smaller cross with arms of equal length (known as a Greek cross) bears the "Tsata", a symbol that could be described as a neck decoration shaped as a turned over crescent, which was used for the Holy Trinity or Jesus to signify the highest status in the Kingdom of God.The Savior's Cross is marked with abbreviated inscriptions in Church Slavonic incorporated into four "boxes" positioned in each of the four crossbar ends.The top "boxed" end of the vertical crossbar has aChurch Slavonic abbreviation meaning "KING OF GLORY",the Orthodox title of Jesustraditionallyinscribed on "Old Believer's" crosses.The "boxed" left and right side ends of the central horizontal crossbar of the pendantbear the Sacred Name of Jesus Christinscribed asthe "IC XC" Greek Christogramin Church Slavonictransliteration, the "ICЪ" on the left, and the "XCЪ" onthe right.

The line just below the"ICЪXCЪ" inscription within the side "boxes" showsGreek "NIKA" ("VICTORIOUS") symbol made in Cyrillic transliteration as "HИK" on the left, and "A" on the right to , an ancient reminder of Christ's victory over sin and death achieved on the Cross.

There are four additional, diagonal crossbeams shaped asflower buds, superimposed on the circle surrounding the center of the cross.The diagonal crossbeams usually refer to the cross of Saint Andrew the Apostle. Alternatively, the four flower buds on the vine could symbolize the Four Evangelists.St. Andrew is considered the Founder and the first Bishop of the Christian Church of Byzantium, and is the patron saint of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Saint Andrew is believed to have been crucified on the Crux decussata (X-shaped cross, also known as "Saltire").